Friday Fodder: Tennis For The Rest of Us
five ways to join the club this weekend (no membership required)
Friday Fodder is an extension of the weekly conversation-starter into real life. This week, I teamed up with Racquet Racket to dive into the chic, cool world of tennis.
Everyone is into tennis. Really. And particularly this summer.
So if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “you know, I think I’d like to be a tennis person” but aren’t sure where to start, let today’s fodder inspire you.
We Need to Talk About Tennis
Tennis has always been an OG “country club” sport. Right next to golf. But there's a simplicity to it that no one really talks about. That's why we say tennis is the antithesis of golf.
Play tennis! Grab a buddy and find a place to play with the help of the USTA. It’s kind of surprising how many free public courts there are. But it’s up to you to figure out which ones have the highest nets, least surface cracks and best bystanders.
A Pimm’s cup. Make one with a fancy fruity syrup. I’m going to try this one since strawberries are perfectly ripe right now and very on brand for Wimbledon. Morgan Riddle (girlfriend of Wimbledon semi-finalist Taylor Fritz) says they don’t taste like much, but I’m hopefully this recipe will prove us all wrong.
Over tennis books! Here are some fun reads for your consideration. From fiction to function, pick one, read a bit to find an interesting little takeaway to share during net-change at your next match. (Or at your next Dinner Party).
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid for a fun, fictional look at the life of a professional female tennis player and her resurgent rise from the ashes.
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey for a lesson on how the mental strength of tennis imparts wisdom for everyday life.
Open by Andre Agassi to immerse yourself in stories of matches from one of America’s greatest tennis players.
The Winner by Teddy Wayne is a billed as a “A dark, explosive literary thriller that brilliantly skewers the elite.” Yes, please!
String Theory by David Foster Wallace is a compilation of essays on his favorite sport as a competitor and fan. Did you know he was a competitive youth player?
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum to read about fictional summering New York socialites who take tennis too seriously, are over-inflating how good they really are and are actually just in it for the “skirts and shit-talking.”
Breakfast at Wimbledon! SO. Many. People. Are watching Wimbledon this year. Join the club and watch the finals this weekend. Women’s title on Saturday, where a new champion will be crowned. Men’s on Sunday with a potential three-peat winner. Wake up, make a cutie little brunch with a cup of tea, don a match-day appropriate outfit and prepare for some gripping sporting action. (And of course some Royal Box celeb-spotting).
Love or hate: the smell of fresh tennis balls?
Love? This Ball Boy Candle might just be for you.
If you enjoyed reading this, let us know! Hit the ❤️ to show that you liked it, drop a comment or forward to a tennis-loving friend.
And to really fire up your tennis obsession, turn to Racquet Racket.
Photo Credit: Slim Aarons, Tennis in San Diego
I have Carrie Soto is Back on my list to read!
I wish I loved tennis, just because there is so much passion and enthusiasm here! But I just can’t figure it out….I know, such a contentious statement to say, because I do feel like “who doesn’t love tennis?”